Shloka 27

आवरणपूजावर्णनम् (Āvaraṇa-pūjā-varṇanam) — Description of Enclosure/Layered Worship

Devanagari script

पश्चिमाभिमुखं रौद्रं क्षेत्रपालं समर्चयेत् । यथाविधि विधानज्ञश्शिवप्रीत्यर्थमेव च

Transliteration

paścimābhimukhaṃ raudraṃ kṣetrapālaṃ samarcayet | yathāvidhi vidhānajñaśśivaprītyarthameva ca

Translation

西に面して、礼拝者は儀軌のとおりに、聖域を護る猛きクシェートラパーラ（Kṣetrapāla）を恭しく供養せよ。作法に通じた者は、ただ主シヴァを歓喜させるために、定めのまま厳密に行ずべし。

Word by Word

• paścima-abhimukham: west-facing
• paścima-abhimukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक) + abhimukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: ‘पश्चिमं अभिमुखम्’ (west-facing)

• raudram: fierce/raudra
• raudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with kṣetrapālam)

• kṣetrapālam: Kṣetrapāla (field/temple guardian)
• kṣetrapālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: ‘क्षेत्रस्य पालः’ (guardian of the sacred precinct)

• samarcayet: should worship properly
• samarcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + √arc (अर्च् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः ‘सम्’; ‘he should duly worship’

• yathā-vidhi: according to the prescribed rule
• yathā-vidhi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः—‘विधिपूर्वकम्’ (according to rule)

• vidhāna-jñaḥ: the knower of the rite
• vidhāna-jñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: ‘विधानं जानाति’ (knower of procedure)

• śiva-prīti-artham: for Śiva’s satisfaction
• śiva-prīti-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + prīti (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: ‘शिवस्य प्रीत्यर्थम्’ (for the sake of Śiva’s pleasure)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (only/indeed)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kshetrapala
• Rudra

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that devotion to Śiva is supported by disciplined, scripturally-aligned worship, including honoring the sacred space and its guardian (Kṣetrapāla) so the rite becomes unobstructed and Śiva-pleasing.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Kṣetrapāla worship is a preparatory, protective limb of Saguna Śiva worship in a consecrated place—ensuring the Liṅga-pūjā proceeds with purity, order, and reverence to Śiva’s manifested presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a preliminary offering to Kṣetrapāla facing west, following prescribed vidhi (rules); then proceed to Śiva worship with mantra and devotion, maintaining ritual correctness and inner steadiness.